Surgery knocks RB Derrick Henry out of Tide’s spring game

Posted by John Taylor on April 16, 2013, 11:23 AM EDT

AP

When Alabama takes the field for its annual spring game this Saturday, the two-time defending national champs will do so without an early enrollee and one of the top members of its top-rated 2013 recruiting class.

The high school coach of running back Derrick Henry confirmed to TideSports.com that his former player sustained a fractured tibia during this past Saturday’s scrimmage. While the school has yet to confirm the injury, the coach added that surgery was performed and a plate inserted into the injured limb.

As a result, Henry will be unavailable for this weekend’s A-Day game.

The good news, though, is that Henry should be fully recovered at some point in July. Such a timeline would mean Henry would be available for and be a full participant in the start of summer camp.

“A kid like him, with the work ethic he has, I would expect him to have a quick recovery,” Yulee (Fla.) High School coach Bobby Ramsay told the website. “Naturally, he’s disappointed. But I talked to him and I think his spirits are going to be fine. He knows this isn’t as bad as an Achilles (tendon) or a knee injury. And I told him it’s better to have something like this happen now than in September.”

Despite the injury, the 6-3, 238-pound Henry will still be viewed as one of the incoming freshmen who could make an immediate impact as the Tide looks for an unprecedented BCS three-peat.

UPDATED 1:21 p.m. ET: Head coach Nick Saban addressed Henry’s injury issue in a statement released by the school Tuesday afternoon.

“Derrick Henry suffered a fractured fibula in Saturday’s scrimmage and had successful surgery this morning with Dr. Lyle Cain,” Saban’s comments began. “With the support of our medical staff and the hard work and dedication Derrick has shown since he arrived, we are confident that he will make a full recovery for the start of camp this fall.”